The UNP said yesterday that they would attend the second round of talks with President Kumaratunga despite her accusations that the party had colluded with the LTTE in its attempt to assassinate her during the presidential election.

  Condemning President's allegations which appeared in her recent interview with the Far Eastern Economic Review, UNP media spokesman Karunasena Kodithuwakku said that the UNP totally rejected these accusations.

  Reports in the state media had alleged that the Town Hall bomb blast that was planned to assassinate the President was a part of a conspiracy to stage a military coup. However, opposition and media organisations were quick to condemn the accusations, saying the government wants to stifle opposition.

  Several army personnel were also linked to this alleged plot and there had been plans to capture power through a military coup if the President was killed in the town hall bomb blast. The evidence of the plot had been exposed from several taped telephone conversations, which involved some high businessmen as well as military personnel.

  Meanwhile the National Peace Council (NPC) yesterday called for an all out commitment to the peace process despite the cloud cast by last Friday's calamity at Rajagiriya.  

  The Council stated that the government and the UNP should meet and discuss the political reform proposals that would be negotiated at a later stage with the LTTE.

  "For the first time in Sri Lanka's modern history, the mainstream political leaders had got down to the task of forging a common position regarding issues of governance and ethnic power sharing," an NPC statement said.

  "It is inevitable that in the aftermath of the LTTE attack that doubts would be expressed about the value of the political approach. It is likely that calls, such as those made by the Sinhalese organisations, will also be made by others that a more resolute effort to be made to deal militarily with the LTTE."

  Further, the NPC said that the successful first meeting between President Kumaratunga and the UNP leader would hopefully set an irreversible tone and momentum for the future.

  Therefore, under the present circumstances the UNP leader has no choice but to offer the party's hand to the government for a southern consensus, which is the main timely step that is needed for the basis of talks with the LTTE.